Ballarat Highlands captures men’s and women’s divisions in 2023-24 Provincial Championships
The Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region (BHBR) won both the men’s and women’s divisions in the 2023-24 Provincial Championships held on Sunday, 19th November 2023 at Sebastopol Bowling Club.
Competing regions alongside the BHBR included the Geelong Bowls Region and Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region, while the Wimmera Bowls Region was unavailable this time around.
Up until this season the Provincial Shield was a men only event, however, the regions decided to add a women’s division and a shield was struck up for the 2023-24 edition.
Due to Wimmera unable to play in the usually 4-team event, it was decided to play 6 rinks x 3 games for the men and 4 rinks x 3 games for the women, eliminating the bye and allowing for a full day’s play between the three regions.
Each rink gained 2 points for a win and 1 point each for a draw.
It was a successful format, and the greens were turned out in spectacular fashion by Sebastopol’s greenkeeper Scott Roberts.
The weather gods played their part too, producing outstanding conditions for bowling.
In the men’s division, the BHBR 21, defeated BCGBR 19 and GBR 14, while in the women’s division, it was BHBR 14, BCGBR 12 and GBR 10.
The Chris Steenhuis, Heath Fumberger, Rob. Baker and Brenton Coad rink set the tone of the day with a top 19 shot win in their first match followed by 11 & 4 shot victories in their next two, remaining unbeaten on the day.
Two rink wins for the Ben McArthur and Chris McDonald skipped rinks aided the cause, with the whole team playing their part to produce a memorable victory for the BHBR men.
The BHBR women combined for 7 rink wins to win the inaugural Provincial Shield for women.
Multiple rink winners included Anne Draffen, Leah McArthur and Sarah Braybrook skipped rinks, while Heather Hopkinson’s rink won their third game which proved decisive in the washup.
An outstanding effort by our men and women’s teams at the Provincial Championships against tough opponents.
Congratulations to selectors picking the teams and players making themselves available on the day.
All teams played the game in great spirit and the camaraderie across the rinks made for an enjoyable day of bowling for all, including the spectators.
23-24 Provincial Shield Results – MEN
- BHBR 21 (Winner)
- BCGBR 19
- GBR 14
Team Rink Results
BHBR 1
T. Kelly, A. Ingram, W. Matthews & B. McArthur
Game 1: 10-16 GBR 1 (L)
Game 2: 11-7 BHBCG 1 (W)
Game 3: 18-5 GBR 2 (W)
BHBR 2
R. Dickinson, D. Berry, A. Mathison & M. Blackburn
Game 1: 5-15 BCGBR 2 (L)
Game 2: 16-11 BCGBR3 (W)
Game 3: 10-10 GBR 4 (Draw)
BHBR 3
C. Steenhuis, H. Fumberger, R. Baker & B. Coad
Game 1: 21-2 GBR 3 (W)
Game 2: 20-9 GBR 2 (W)
Game 3: 12-8 BCGBR (W)
BHBR 4
R. Brown, J. Croft, A. Wood & C. McDonald
Game 1: 12-9 BCGBR 4 (W)
Game 2: 6-15 GBR 4 (L)
Game 3: 14-11 GBR 6 (W)
BHBR 5
P. McGrath, Z. Stewart, G. Mann, R. Bedggood
Game 1: 12-13 GBR 5 (L)
Game 2: 9-10 BCGBR 5 (L)
Game 3: 8-8 BCGBR 6 (Draw)
BHBR 6
G. Plier, P. Kennedy, G. Johnson & H. Varcoe
Game 1: 10-12 BCGBR 6 (L)
Game 2: 15-15 GBR 5 (Draw)
Game 3: 10-7 BCGBR 5 (W)
BHBR’s Provincial Shield Men’s Winners
View 23-24 Provincial Championships – Men results.
23-24 Provincial Shield Results – WOMEN
- BHBR 14 (Winner)
- BCGBR 12
- GBR 10
Team Rink Results
BHBR 1
J. Roberts, D. Gorin, D. Stanaway & A. Draffen
Game 1: 11-9 GBR 1 (W)
Game 2: 6-12 BCGBR 1 (L)
Game 3: 15-11 BCGBR 2 (W)
BHBR 2
A. Ryan, D. Leeson, E. Kierce & L. McArthur
Game 1: 8-7 BCGBR 1 (W)
Game 2: 9-8 GBR 2 (W)
Game 3: 11-12 GBR 3 (L)
BHBR 3
H. Cyrulo, B. Huntley, J. Cameron & S. Braybrook
Game 1: 11-7 BCGBR 4 (W)
Game 2: 3-22 GBR 3 (L)
Game 3: 10-9 GBR 2 (W)
BHBR 4
M. Tait, P. Speechley, L. Lock & H. Hopkinson
Game 1: 8-13 GBR 4 (L)
Game 2: 5-24 BCGBR 3 (L)
Game 3: 17-11 BCGBR 4 (W)
BHBR’s Provincial Shield Women’s Winners
View 23-24 Provincial Championships – Women results.
Featured Photo: BHBR’s Will Matthews sends one down at Sebastopol.